Dunnage mattress valve



y 1966 c. P. STASIUNAS 3,260,276

DUNNAGE MATTRESS VALVE Filed Oct. 14, 1963 14, n l5 H INVENTOR. CARL P.STASILJNAS United States Patent 3,260,276 DUNNAGE MATTRESS VALVE .CarlP. Stasiunas, Stratford, Conn., assignor to National 7 Distillers andChemical Corporation, Richmond, Va.,

a corporation of Virginia Filed Oct. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 316,056 1 Claim.(Cl. 137-2345) This invention relates to a valve for use on dunnage airmattresses and the like.

'Dunnage air mattresses are inflated bags which are placed in freightcars and other carriers to fill up unused space andthereby prevent thefreight from shifting and being damaged during shipping. By virtue ofthe inflation, the mattresses are resilient and therefore can provide acushion for the freight whenever shock loading is applied to the freightcar. The mattress material must be capable of retaining air pressureover a long period of time and also have suflicient strength andresistance to moving the valve plug from the valve receptacle in the bagor mattress, the cap or plug assembly and the valve receptacle or bodyassembly are vulnerable to damage when thrown to the ground in thevicinity of the loading platform. A frequent cause of such damage is themechanical distortion of the valve parts by lift trucks running overthem as they lay on the ground or platform. The external threads, thevalve ports, the gasketing and other external portions of the parts, aswell as internal portions, become distorted and incapable of furtheruse.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dunnage mattressvalve which has improved protective features which permit normal roughusage of the valve without necessitating frequent replacement of one ormore of the parts due to mechanical distortion.

Another object is to provide a dunnage mattress valve in which the morevulnerable parts are protected from direct contact with the ground whenin a disassembled condition.

Briefly the present invention comprises a dunnage mattress valveassembly which includes a valve plug member and a valve receptaclemember adapted threadably to receive said valve plug member inrespective axial positions of open and closed condition. The plug memberand receptacle are interconnected by suitable chain linkage forretaining interconnection between the parts even when disengaged fromone another. The valve receptacle is of greater radial width than axiallength and has internal and external threaded portions at itsouter endas normally aflixed in place on a dunnage mattress or the like. Saidreceptacle member has an intermediate enlarged internal chamber portionand an inner cylindrical seat portion of lesser diameter than saidchamber portion and of substantially greater thickness at its inner end.Peripheral clamping means is provided on said receptacle member foraflixing said receptacle to a dunnage mattress and includes a threadedretaining member which engages the external threaded portion of thereceptacle for adjustment of said clamping means. Said retaining memberis of substantially the same increased thickness as said seat portion inorder to provide increased protection for said receptacle member againstmechanical damage due to excessive forces applied in a generally axialdirection relative to said assembly.

The valve plug member has internal and external threaded portionsthereon, the external threaded portion adapted to engage the internalthreaded portion of the receptacle member, and an internal check valvemeans is provided in said plug with associated fluid ports in the wallof said plug member, the latter ports being alignable with said chamberof the receptacle in the open condition of said valve assembly. Anadjusting flange is provided at the outer end of said plug member, and acylindrical inner end portion of reduced radius on said plug memberincludes gasket means retained in the outer surface thereof engageablewith said seat portion in the closed condition of the valve assembly. Anintermediate shoulder portion is disposed on said plug member at thejuncture of the inner end portion with said plug wall. The axiallyinnermost edge surfaces of the flange, the shoulder portion and theinner end portion of the plug member all lie in a plane outward fromexternal threaded portion, the fluid ports, and the gasket means on theplug member, thereby constituting a three-point protective groundsupport for the plug member when removed from said receptacle member.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent in thefollowing description and claim, and in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a valve assembly according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevation in section;

FIG. 3 is an elevation in section of the receptacle memher; and

FIG. 4 is an elevation in section of the plug member showing the groundsupport features thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, a valve made in accordance with thepresent invention is designated generally by reference numeral 10 andcomprises receptacle member 11 and plug member 12 interconnected by linkage chain 13. Valve receptacle member 11 is comprised of body portion 14being of shorter axial length relative to its width or diameter andhaving an external threaded portion 15 and corresponding internalthreaded portion 16 at its upper end 17 as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. Theintermediate portion 18 of receptacle 11 flares outwardly to provide anenlarged internal chamber portion 19 and has an enlarged end portion 20of increased thickness which includes inner cylindrical seat portion 21of lesser diameter than that of internal chamber portion 19.

Included as external components of receptacle member 11 are a pair ofclamping rings or discs 22 which have central holes 23 loosely receivingthe intermediate portion 18 of receptacle 11 and having opposed circularridges 24 constituting peripheral clamping surfaces. Sealing washer 25is disposed adjacent lower end 20 of receptacle 11 to provide thepressure seal between the lip 26 of receptacle end 20 and the bottomdisc 27.

Compression ring 28 is disposed outwardly or above clamping rings 22 asviewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 and has circular clamping boss 29 which isdisposed against the upper surface 30 of upper clamping ring 31 adjacentits central hole 30 and is adjustable by means of threaded retainingmember 32 which engages external threaded portion 15 of receptacle 11for a preselected pressure against clamping ing 31 and consequently toprovide the clamping pressure of clamping ridges 24 in the rings 22.Formed integrally with compression ring 28 is eyelet member 33 whichreceives connecting link 34 of the linkage means or chain 13.

Valve plug member 12 is comprised of a generally cylindrical bodyportion 35 having adjusting flange 36 on upper end 37 as viewed in FIG.2 and is provided with knurled outer surface 37a. Internal threadedportion 38 is provided adjacent upper end 37 and external threadedportion 39 is provided at the intermediate portion 40 of plug member 12which engages internal threaded portion 16 of receptacle member 11 asshown in FIG. 2. Plug member 12 includes a plurality of outlet ports 41in central portion 42 of its side wall 43 which proivde communicationbetween its inner bore 44 and externally of side wall 43. Lower end 45of plug member 12 is of cylindrical shape, of lesser diameter than thecentral portion 42 of side wall 43 and includes gasketing means 46, suchas an O-ring of rubber or the like retained adjacent lower end 45 inrecess 47. Ring member 47a disposed around plug member 12 beneathadjusting flange 36 interconnects plug member 12 with linkage chain 13.The juncture of the cylindrical end portion 45 with intermediate sidewall portion 43 defines a shoulder 48 which, as will be explainedfurther, provides one element of the protective support as well as anaxial limit stop for plug member 12 in its closed position as shown inFIG. 2. Plug member 12 includes internal check valve means 49 comprisedof upper sealing ring or seat 50 retained in bore 44 above side wallports 41 and axially movable valve member 51 comprised of stem 52slidable in central bore 53 in lower end 45 of plug 12 carrying sealingdisc or washer 54' on its upper end 55 which is movable axially upwardlyas Viewed in FIG. 2 into sealing contact with sealing ring 50' and has anormal open position relative to side wall ports 41 resting on innercentral boss 56 of plug member 12.

In use of the receptacle member 11 is disposed in a hole in the sidewall of a dunnage mattress or the like (not shown) and the clampingmeans, including rings 22, compression ring 28 and retaining ring 32adjusted to cause clamping ridges 24 to grip tightly the mattress sidewall (not shown) between them in pressure tight relation. The plugmember 12 is inserted into the receptacle member 11 and is threadablyengaged therewith by means of external threads 39 on plug member 12 andinternal threads 16. on receptacle 11. By manual adjustment on flange 36the plug 12 can be axially adjusted relative to receptacle 11 into aclosed position as shown in FIG. 2 whereby the lower or inner end 45 ofplug member 12 is sealed against cylindrical seat 21 of receptacle 11 bymeans of O-ring 56. In the latter position air is prevented fromentering or leaving the dunnage mattress through the valve assembly 10.By unscrewing plug 12 so that O-ring 46 is at a position abovecylindrical seat 21, air can pass downwardly through the valve assembly10, i.e. through bore 44 outwardly through ports 41, through internalchamber 19 and downwardly past the cylindrical seat portion ofreceptacle 11 and into the mattress. Because of the check valve, air isprevented from reversing the aforementioned path because any suchtendency will cause check valve 52 to move upwardly against sealing ring50.

Internal threads 38 on plug 12 are adapted threadably to engage suitableair hose fittings or the like to provide the filling air for themattress.

In order to provide a rugged construction for the above type valveassembly which in its general elements and features as above describedare more or less conventional in the art, the plug 12 and receptacle 11have been provided with new and novel features for protection againstdamage normally encountered under the conditions of use.

For this purpose, the relationship of the external elements of plug 12are arranged to provide ground support at points A, B and C as shown inFIG. 4, namely A corresponding to the bottom edge of the inner end 45, Bcorresponding to the shoulder 48 and C corresponding to the bottom outeredge of adjusting flange 36 so that when plug 12 is in its disengagedposition with respect to receptacle 11 it may rest on ground or otherbase member 60, being supported at the aforementioned three points A, Band C, maintaining gasket 46, side wall ports 41 and threaded portion 39out of damaging contact with ground 66*.

Receptacle member 11, in order to provide more rugged construction, hasan increased thickness of inner end portion 20 and substantiallycorresponding increased thickness of retaining ring 11 which provide alaterally extending protective arrangement for the other externalelements of the receptacle assembly and particularly provide protectionagainst mechanical damage due to excessive forces applied, such as bythe wheels of a fork lift truck or the like, in a generally axialdirection while the receptacle member is lying on the ground.

The usual materials of construction may be used for the valve assemblyand its principal component parts, such as, for example, brass,stainless steel, et cetera, and for the gaskets and sealing means any ofthe conventional materials known for such purposes.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described it isto be undertood that certain changes and additions can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

A dunnage mattress valve assembly comprising a valve plug member, and avalve receptacle member adapted threadably to receive, said valve plugmember axially therein, said valve receptacle member being of greaterradial width than axial length and having internal and external threadedportions at its outer end, an intermediate enlarged internal chamberportion and inner cylindrical seat portion of lesser diameter than saidchamber portion and said receptacle having a relatively thick inner end,peripheral clamping means on said receptacle member including a threadedretaining member overlying said clamping means and engaging the externalthreaded portion of said receptacle for adjustment of said clampingmeans, said retaining member being of substantially the same relativethickness as said inner end of said receptacle seat portion and having aradius substantially greater than said receptacle and said plug memberto provide increased protection for said receptacle member includingsaid clamping means against mechanical damage due to ex cessive forcesapplied in a generally axial direction relative to said assembly, saidvalve plug member having internal and external threaded portionsthereon, said external threaded portion adapted to engage the internalthreaded portion of said receptacle member, an internal check valvemeans axially operable in said plug member with associated fluid portsin the wall of said plug member alignable with said chamber in the opencondition of said valve assembly for permitting air flow through saidassembly from outer end to inner end of said receptacle, an adjustingflange on the outer end of said plug member for manual adjustment of thethreaded engagement of said plug with said receptacle, a cylindricalinner end portion of reduced radius on said plug member including gasketmeans retained in the outer surface thereof engageable with said seatportion in the closed condition of said valve assembly, and anintermediate shoulder portion on said plug member at the juncture ofsaid inner end portion with said plug wall, the axially innermost edgesurfaces of said flange, said shoulder portion and said inner endportion of said plug member lying in a plane outward from said externalthreaded portion, said fluid ports and said gasket means on said plugmember, thereby constituting a three-point protective ground support forsaid plug member when removed from said receptacle member.

UNITED References Cited by the Examiner STATES PATENTS Chew 137-614.2 XCarlile' 220--39 X Shanor 220-39 X Carlisle et a1 251--210 X 6 3,147,7639/1964 Morton 137234.5 3,190,332 6/1965 Bernard 285-200 X 3,195,9327/1965 Morton 285200 5 WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

ISADOR WEIL, Examiner.

D. LAMBERT, Assistant Examiner.

